Warning: Dad Brag Post
About a year ago I was sitting in the Benton Civic Center watching something that I thought I would never be a part of. My daughter, Makane, entered the Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant as part of the Old King Coal Festival. Being her first pageant I think we had no expectations for her to win, but we did want her to try her best as we always do. When they called her name as the 2023 Miss Princess Flame at the end of the evening, I went from "Who cares about pageants anyway?" to "Holy crap my kid just won!" in a split second.
After a year of being Princess Flame, she retired her crown last night. I have to say (and not because I'm her dad), she wore that crown well. During the course of that year, she did all the things that pageant winners do. She rode in parades, did the speaking engagements, and visited special events like the Veterans Honor Flight all in service to Old King Coal and the community of West Frankfort. Something else was also happening.
She also used the title to serve. (This is where the dad brag comes in.) She started the Building Leaders Project with two very worthy activities. She collected over 250 books through donations to give to the Saint Louis Children's Hospital. She also coordinated an art supply drive for the Night's Shield Children's Shelter in West Frankfort. To say that we are proud of her for using her crown in service to others is an understatement. Over the years, she has made us very proud in a variety of ways. Now as she has become a young woman this is the kind of pride in her that I'm looking for.
Parents, I hope we are looking for the same thing out of our children. When given a big opportunity, what will our kids do with it? Will they check it off the list and merely say, "Look what I did that one time."? Or will they see the chance to do something that leaves an impact? As our kids get older, it is important to encourage them to serve but to also set the standard for service. I snapped this picture last night to hopefully remind her that with her effort, the next Princess Flame will want to meet the standard set forth or even better, exceed it. I'm confident that Makane set a high bar and for that, I could not be prouder.
Makane, thank you for representing your crown and Old King Coal the way you have. You have set the standard for the next young lady and the next and so on. Congratulations on your reign and though I am not ready to call myself a pageant dad, I am always proud to be called your dad. Your mother and I are very blessed. You are more than any crown you might wear.
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